GIFT  Of 


THE  CORNELL  UNIVERSITY, 


AT  ITHACA,  N.  Y. 


FIRST  GENERAL  ANNOUNCEMENT. 


TRUSTEES. 

*His  EXCELLENCY,  REUBEN  E.  FENTON,  Governor. 

*His  HONOR  STEWART  L.  WOODFORD,  Lieutenant-Governor. 

*HoN.  EDMUND  L.  PITTS,  Speaker. 

*GEN.  MARSENA  R.  PATRICK,  President  State  Agricultural  Society. 

*HON.  VICTOR  M.  RICE,  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

*HON.  EZRA  CORNELL,  Chairman  of  Board  of  Trustees. 

*HON.  ANDREW  D.  WHITE,  President  of  the  University. 

*FRANCIS  M.  FINCH,  ESQ.,  Librarian  Cornell  Public  Library. 

*ALONZO  B.  CORNELL,  ESQ.,  ITHACA. 

HON.  HORACE  GREELEY,  NEW  YORK. 

HON.  EDWIN  D.  MORGAN,  NEW  YORK. 

HON.  ERASTUS  BROOKS,  NEW  YORK. 

HON.  WILLIAM  KELLY,  RIIINEBECK. 

GEN.  J.  MEREDITH  READ,  ALBANY. 

HON.  GEORGE  H.  ANDREWS,  SPRINGFIELD,  OTSEGO  Co. 

HON.  ABRAM  B.  WEAVER,  DEERFIELD,  ONEIDA  Co. 

HON.  CHARLES  J.  FOLGER,  GENEVA. 

HON.  EDWIN  B.  MORGAN,  AURORA. 

HON.  JOHN  M.  PARKER,  OWEGO. 

HIRAM  SIBLEY,  ESQ.,  ROCHESTER. 

HON.  JOSIAH  B.  WILLIAMS,  ITHACA. 

HON.  GEORGE  W.  SCHUYLER,  ITHACA,  Treat,  of  the  University.. 

WILLIAM  ANDRUS,  ESQ.,  ITHACA.         :    ;  , 

JOHN  McGRAW,  ESQ.,  ITHACA.  \ ,»  ;;; 

TRUSTEES  Ex-Ortficio.  / 


CORNELL  UNIVERSITY. 


FIRST  GENERAL  ANNOUNCEMENT. 


THE  first  term  of  the  CORNELL  UNIVERSITY,  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
will  open  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  September,  1868,  with 
the  inauguration  of  the  President  and  Professors. 

The  examination  of  candidates  for  admission  will  be  con 
ducted  by  the  Professors  elect  in  the  several  departments,  on 
the  Monday  and  Tuesday  preceding. 

Though  students  can  be  received  at  a  later  period,  it  is 
greatly  desired  that  they  appear  on  Monday  and  Tuesday  as 
above. 

The  organization  of  Departments,  Courses  and  Classes  will 
immediately  follow  the  inauguration  exercises,  and  there  will 
be  no  delay  in  the  commencement  of  instruction. 

Departments  and  Courses  will  be  organized  as  follows : 

DIVISION  OF  SPECIAL  SCIENCES  AND  AETS. 

1.  The  Department  of  Agriculture. 

2.  "  "  The  Mechanic  Arts. 

3.  «  "  Civil  Engineering. 

4.  "  "  Military  Engineering  and  Tactics. 

5.  •<  "  Mining  and  Practical  Geology. 

6.  "  "  History,  Social  and  Political  Science, 

In  all  the  instruction  in  these  Departments  a  constant  effort 
will  be  made  to  educate  men  to  speedily  become  practically 
useful  in  developing  the  resources  and  in  aiding  in  the  general 
progress  of  the  country. 

361451 


THE  .CORNELL   UNIVERSITY. 


In  the  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE,  science  and 
practice  will  go  together,  not  to  rear  a  body  of  amateur  agri 
culturists,  but  to  bring  scientific  methods  to  bear  in  ordinary 
agriculture,  so  that  tried  by  an  economic  test  the  result  shall  be 
to  advance  the  prosperity  of  the  country.  Special  attention 
will  be  given  to  the  education  of  young  men,  ambitious  to 
become  instructors  and  professors  in  the  numerous  agricultu 
ral  colleges  now  rising  in  nearly  all  the  states  of  the  Union. 

In  the  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  "MECHANIC  ARTS," 
science  will  also  be  applied  to  practice ;  fitting  men  to  take 
positions  of  influence  and  usefulness,  in  developing  the  manu 
facturing  and  mechanical  resources  and  interests  of  the  country. 
Special  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  practical  education  of 
those  who  wish  to  take  charge  of  manufactories  and  work-shops 
of  various  sorts. 

In  the  DEPARTMENT  OF  CIVIL  ENGINEERING  the 
same  idea  of  making  thoroughly  scientific  men  for  speedy  prac 
tical  use  will  be  carried  out. 

The  DEPARTMENT  OF  MILITARY  ENGINEERING 
AND  TACTICS  it  is  hoped  to  place  under  the  supervision 
of  graduates  of  the  National  Academy  at  West  Point. 

The  DEPARTMENT  OF  MINING  AND  PRACTICAL 
GEOLOGY  has  for  its  aim  the  fitting  of  men  to  develop  the 
vast  mineral  resources  of  the  nation.  "When  it  is  considered 
what  immense  losses  have  been  incurred  under  the  manage 
ment  of  unscientific  or  half-scientific  men,  the  importance  of 
this  Department  will  be  recognized.  Situated  as  the  Univer 
sity  is  near  one  of  the  greatest  mining  districts  of  the  United 
States,  it  presents  special  attractions  to  all  students  desiring 
real  preparation  for  work  of  the  kind  contemplated. 

In  the  DEPARTMENT  OF  HISTORY,  SOCIAL  AND 
POLITICAL  SCIENCE,  the  need  of  the  country  for  a  higher 
and  more  thorough  education  for  the  public  service,  will  be 
constantly  kept  in  view.  Principles  as  thought  out  by  Econo 
mists,  Statesmen  and  Historians  will  be  constantly  applied  to 
what  has  been  actually  wrought  out  in  society.  The  trustees 
will  endeavor,  in  questions  of  Political  Economy,  upon  which 


THE   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY.  5 

good  and  able  men  differ,  to  have  both  sides  ably  presented 
and  discussed.  'No  attempt  will  be  made,  however,  to  pro 
selyte  students  to  any  peculiar  or  partisan  views. 

DIVISION   OF   SCIENCE,   LITERATURE    AND   THE 
ARTS  IN  GENERAL. 

1.  FIRST  GENERAL  COURSE,  OR  "  MODERN  COURSE." 

This  will  extend  through  four  years.  To  Modern  Langua 
ges,  which  have  become  so  indispensable  in  a  good  education, 
will  be  mainly  assigned  the  place  and  labor  usually  given  to 
Ancient  Languages.  The  course  will  be  suited  to  the  needs  of 
students,  so  far  as  possible,  by  the  allowance  of  options  be 
tween  studies  in  the  latter  years  of  the  course,  on  a  plan  some 
what  similar  to  that  lately  adopted  at  Harvard  University. 

2.  "  MODERN  COURSE  ABRIDGED." 

This  course  will  extend  through  three  years.  This,  as  well 
as  the  abridged  courses  which  follow,  are  intended  to  meet  the 
needs  of  those  students  who  have  not  time  for  a  full  sreneral 

o 

course.  It  will  give  the  main  studies  of  the  extended  course, 
the  subordinate  studies  being  omitted  so  as  to  decrease  the 
time  one  year. 

3.  SECOND  GENERAL  COURSE,  OR  "  COMBINED  COURSE." 
This  course  will  extend  through  four  years.  In  this  the 
languages  studied  Avill  be  Latin  and  German,  the  remainder 
of  the  course  being  essentially  the  same  as  the  "  General 
Course."  To  those  who  wish  to  make  a  thorough  study  of 
Modern  Languages  this  course  will  be  valuable,  as  combining- 

O          O  O 

the  most  useful  parts,  practically,  of  the  courses  usually  pur 
sued  in  Colleges,  with  a  broader  course;  giving  the  two  sides 
of  all  the  great  Modern  Languages  and  literatures,  including 
our  own,  and  aiding  the  scientific  student  greatly  in  the  lite 
rature  and  nomenclature  of  science. 

4-.  "  COMBINED  COURSE  ABRIDGED." 

This  will  extend  through  three  years.  Its  name  explains  its 
character. 


6  THE   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY. 

5.  THIRD  GENERAL  COURSE,  OR  "  CLASSICAL  COURSE." 

This  will  be  mainly  like  the  "  First  General  Course,"  with 
the  option  of  Ancient  Languages  for  Modern. 

6.  "  SCIENTIFIC  COURSE." 

This  will  extend  through  three  years,  affording  a  general 
scientific  preparation  for  either  of  the  first  four  departments  in 
the  "  First  Division,"  as  named  above.  A  special  effort  will 
be  made  to  bring  this  department  fully  up  to  the  needs  of 
the  times,  both  by  the  course  adopted  and  by  the  professors 
elected  to  maintain  it. 

7.  SCIENTIFIC  COURSE  ABRIDGED. 

This  will  extend  through  two  years.  Its  name  explains  its 
character. 

8.  OPTIONAL  COURSE. 

This  is  similar  to  that  allowed  American  "students  in  the 
greater  German  Universities ;  also  like  the  "  Select  Course" 
at  the  University  of  Michigan ;  and  which,  in  both  cases,  has 
been  very  successful.  In  this  course  the  student,  on  consulta 
tion  with  friends  and  the  appropriate  instructors,  selects  any 
three  studies  for  which  he  may  be  fitted,  from  the  whole  range 
of  studies  pursued  in  the  entire  University,  follows  them  up 
to  such  point  as  may  be  agreed  upon,  and  receives,  from  the 
Governing  Board  of  the  University,  at  the  completion  of  his 
work,  a  certificate,  showing  the  extent  of  the  course  he  has 
taken. 

9.  DEGREES,   DIPLOMAS  AND   CERTIFICATES. 

Appropriate  degrees,  attested  by  diplomas  or  certificates,  will 
be  conferred  upon  all  students  passing  satisfactorily  through  any 
of  the  above  named  departments  or  courses.  But  it  is  thorough 
ly  to  be  understood  that  no  distinction  will  be  made  between 
the  courses  extending  through  four  years,  as  to  the  name,  charac 
ter  or  value  of  the  degree  or  diploma,  and  the  trustees  pledge 
themselves  to  use  every  effort  to  prevent  any  caste-spirit  in 
any  department  or  course  as  compared  with  another. 


EEQUIREMENTS  FOR  ADMISSION 


GENERAL  REQUIREMENTS. 


All  candidates  for  admission  to  any  department  or  course 
must  present  satisfactory  evidences  of  good  moral  character. 

All  candidates  for  admission  to  any  of  the  special  depart 
ments  in  the  "  First  Division"  must  be  at  least  sixteen  years 
of  age.  All  candidates  for  admission  to  any  of  the  courses  of 
the  "  /Second  Division"  must  be  at  least  fifteen  years  of  age. 

Candidates  for  advanced  standing  will  be  examined  in  the 
previous  studies  of  the  course  which  they  purpose  to  enter,  and 
if  they  come  from  another  College  or  University  will  present 
certificates  of  honorable  dismission. 

Entering  the  University  will  be  considered  a  pledge  to  obey 
its  rules  and  regulations. 

Candidates  for  admission  to  any  department  or  course  must 
have  received  a  good  common  English  education,  and  be 
morally,  mentally  and  physically  qualified  to  pursue  to  ad 
vantage  the  course  of  study  to  which  they  propose  to  give 
their  attention.* 

SPECIAL  REQUIREMENTS. 

1.  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  CIVIL  ENGINEERING  AND  ARCHI 
TECTURE,  MILITARY  ENGINEERING  AND  TACTICS,  AND  MINING  AND 
PRACTICAL  GEOLOGY.  In  addition  to  the  general  requirements 
candidates  will  be  examined  in  the  whole  of  Elementary  and 
Plane  Geometry. 

*  The  same  qualifications  as  those  named  for  the  Lawrence  Scientific  School  at  Cam 
bridge. 


8  THE  CORNELL   UNIVERSITY. 

2.  For  the  "  COMBINED  COURSE"  in  the  Second  Division,  in 
which  Latin  is  taken  as  an  optional  study  in  place  of  one  of 
the  Modern  Languages,  in  addition  to  the  general   require 
ments  the  candidate  will  be  examined  in  Caesar's  Commenta 
ries,  Cicero's  Select  Orations,   six  books  of  the  ^Eneid  and 
forty-five  exercises  in  Arnold's  Prose  Composition,  or  in  a 
course  equivalent  to  this. 

3.  For    the    "  THIRD    GENERAL    COURSE,"    or    "  CLASSICAL 
COURSE,"  an  examination  will   be  made  similar  to  that  for 

•  entering  the  first  year  at  the  existing  Colleges  of  a  good  grade. 

OF  CANDIDATES  IMPERFECTLY  PREPARED. 

For  candidates  found  to  be  of  good  mental  quality,  but  de 
fective  in  preparation,  provision  will  be  made  for  special  pre 
paratory  instruction  in  a  department  separate  and  distinct,  but 
under  the  control  and  direction  of  the  University  Faculty, 
until  such  students  are  fully  competent  to  enter  the  University. 
Students  intending  to  enter  are  urged  to  give  their  main  atten 
tion,  from  the  time  of  receiving  this  circular,  to  strengthening 
themselves  in  a  "sound,  ordinary  English  education;"  such 
as  can  be  obtained  in  every  good  public  school  or  academy. 
Let  their  efforts  be  laid  out  in  perfecting  themselves  in  the 
following  course : 

In  English  Grammar,  the  general  practical  principles,  with 
the  strictest  attention  to  exercises  in  Orthography.  In 
English  composition  each  applicant  should  take  pains  to  cul 
tivate  skill  and  facility.  To  this  end  frequent  and  brief  essays 
and  impromptu  compositions,  oral  and  written,  are  recom 
mended.  In  Geography,  the  leading  facts  of  General  Geo- 
raphy,  with  special  attention  to  the  Geography  of  Europe  and 
America,  to  be  learned,  not  by  "  parroting"  from  text  books, 
but  by  common-sense  study  of  any  atlas,  taking  one  map  after 
another,  fastening  into  the  mind  the  leading,  physical  and 
political  features  in  the  Geography  of  each  continent  and  of 
each  country,  and  finally  grouping  them  mentally  together. 
To  this  end  map  drawing  will  be  found  of  the  greatest  use. 
Three  weeks'  study,  in  this  way,  will  do  more  than  three  years 


THE  CORNELL   UNIVERSITY.  9 

study  after  the  ordinary  method.  In  Arithmetic,  attention 
should  be  especially  directed  to  fundamental  principles. 
These  should  be  clearly  apprehended,  and  fairly  fixed  in  the 
student's  mind.  In  view  of  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  the 
University,  too  much  importance  cannot  be  given  to  a  thor 
ough  preliminary  drill  in  Mental  Arithmetic. 

Good  health,  good  habits,  and  a  good  thorough  education  in 
the  common  English  branches,  are  then  the  simple  requirements 
for  admission.  Every  failure  in  institutions  for  higher  educa 
tion  may  be  traced  to  a  defect  in  one  of  these  respects.  On 
these,  as  a  basis,  the  University  pledges  itself  to  build  a  good 
superstructure. 

FEES  FOR  TUITION. 

The  fees  for  tuition  to  persons  not  exempt  under  the  charter 
as  "  State  Students,"  are  ten  dollars  for  each  term,  or  thirty 
dollars  for  the  year.  Neither  matriculation  fees  nor  initiation 
fees  are  required. 

In  special  cases  of  students  of  decided  merit,  who  are 
proven  to  be  in  great  need,  a  remission  may  be  made,  either 
wholly  or  in  part  of  tuition  fees,  such  remission  being  con 
sidered  as  a  loan,  the  student  giving  a  note  or  promise  to  pay 
them  so  soon  as  he  shall  become  able  after  leaving  the  Uni 
versity.  In  all  other  cases  payment  for  each  term  must  be 
made  in  advance.  Students  will  be  held  responsible  for  any 
injury  which  may  be  done  by  them  to  the  University  property. 

PAYMENTS  FOR  MATERIALS  USED  IN  LABORATORY  PRACTICE. 

Chemicals  and  other  materials  used  in  laboratory  practice 
will  be  charged  to  the  student  using  them  at  actual  cost  price. 

"  STATE  STUDENTS." 

In  the  original  act  of  incorporation  of  the  University  is  the 
following  section : 

"  §  9.  The  several  departments  of  study  in  the  said  Univer 
sity  shall  be  open  to  applicants  for  admission  thereto  at  the 
lowest  rates  of  expense  consistent  with  its  welfare  and  em- 


10  THE   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY. 

ciency,  and  without  distinction  as  to  rank,  class,  previous 
occupation  or  locality.  But  with  a  view  to  equalize  its  advan 
tages  to  all  parts  of  the  State,  the  institution  shall  annually 
receive  students,  one  from  each  Assembly  District  in  the  State, 
to  be  selected  as  hereinafter  provided,  and  shall  give  them 
instruction  in  any  or  in  all  the  prescribed  branches  of  study 
in  any  department  of  said  institution,  free  of  any  tuition  fee, 
or  of  any  incidental  charges,  to  be  paid  to  said  University, 
unless  such  incidental  charges  shall  have  been  made  to  com 
pensate  for  damages  needlessly  or  purposely  done  by  the  stu 
dents  to  the  property  of  said  University.  The  said  free 
instruction  shall  moreover  be  accorded  to  said  students  in  con 
sideration  of  their  superior  ability,  and  as  a  reward  for  superior 
scholarship  in  the  academies  and  public  schools  of  this  State. 
Said  students  shall  be  selected  as  the  Legislature  may,  from 
time  to  time,  direct,  and  until  otherwise  ordered,  as  follows : 
The  School  Commissioner  or  Commissioners  of  each  county, 
and  the  Board  of  Education  of  each  city,  or  those  performing 
the  duties  of  such  a  board,  shall  select  annually  the  best 
scholar  from  each  academy  and  each  public  school  of  their 
respective  counties  or  cities  as  candidates  for  the  University 
scholarship.  The  candidates  thus  selected  in  each  county  or 
city  shall  meet  at  such  time  and  place  in  the  year  as  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  shall  appoint,  to  be  examined 
by  a  board  consisting  of  the  School  Commissioner  or  Commis 
sioners  of  the  county,  or  by  the  said  Board  of  Education  of  the 
cities,  with  such  other  persons  as  the  Supervisors  shall  appoint, 
who  shall  examine  said  candidates  and  determine  which  of 
them  are  the  best  scholars ;  and  the  Board  of  Supervisors  shall 
then  select  therefrom  to  the  number  of  one  for  each  assembly 
district  in  said  county  or  city,  and  furnish  the  candidates  thus 
selected  with  a  certificate  of  such  selection,  which  certificate 
shall  entitle  said  student  to  admission  to  said  University,  sub 
ject  to  the  examination  and  approval  of  the  Faculty  of  said  Uni 
versity.  In  making  these  selections  preference  shall  be  given 
(where  other  qualifications  are  equal)  to  the  sons  of  those  who 
have  died  in  the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States ; 
consideration  shall  be  had  also  of  the  physical  ability  of  the  can 
didate.  W henever  any  student  selected  as  above  described  shall 
have  been,  from  any  cause,  removed  from  the  University  before 
the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  he  was  selected,  then  one  of 
the  competitors  to  his  place  in  the  University  from  his  district 
may  be  elected  to  succeed  him  therein,  as  the  School  Commis 
sioner  or  Commissioners  of  the  county  of  his  residence,  or  the 
Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of  his  residence,  may  direct." 


THE   COKNELL   UNIVEESITY.  11 

Under  this  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  will,  at 
an  early  day,  issue  a  circular  defining  the  duties  of  School 
Commissioners  regarding  the  examinations  under  this  act,  and 
making  suggestions  as  to  the  best  manner  of  conducting  them. 

All  students  presenting  themselves  at  the  University  with 
a  certificate,  such  as  is  contemplated  in  the  section  above  cited, 
showing  that  after  an  examination  he  has  been  adjudged  the 
"  best  scholar,"  will  be  admitted  to  any  department  or  course 
for  which  he  is  fitted,  and  continued' for  four  years,  or  as  long 
as  he  shall  profitably  employ  his  time  in  the  University,  free 
of  all  matriculation  fees,  term  taxes,  or  any  other  payment  for 
tuition. 

ROOMS. 

Suites  of  rooms  will  be  provided,  in  the  College  buildings 
and  near  the  grounds,  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of 
about  two  hundred  students.  Each  suite  in  the  buildings  con 
sists  of  a  study  with  bed-rooms  and  closets  adjoining.  They 
are  large  and  convenient,  with  careful  provision  for  heat  and 
ventilation,  and  no  study  or  bed-room  has  been  or  will  be  con 
structed  without  direct  communication  with  the  outer  light 
and  air. 

It  is  intended,  at  the  expense  of  the  University,  to  provide 
neat  and  durable  furniture.  The  rent  of  rooms  and  furniture 
will  range  from  seventy-five  cents  to  one  dollar  per  week,  ac 
cording  to  the  occupation  of  the  suite  of  rooms  by  two  students 
or  by  three.  Rooms  can  also  be  obtained,  at  reasonable  rates, 
with  families  in  the  town. 

BOAKD. 

Board  can  be  obtained  in  the  village  at .  moderate  rates. 
Probably  good  board  could  be  secured,  at  a  lower  price, 
by  the  formation  of  clubs  among  the  students.  The  Univer 
sity  Steward  will  be  authorized,  in  such  case,  to  aid  clubs,  by 
the  purchase  of  stores  for  them  at  wholesale,  and  by  securing 
rooms. 


12  THE   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY. 

FUEL. 

The  direct  communication  with  the  neighboring  coal  mines 
gives  advantages  in  this  respect.  The  University  Steward  will 
purchase  coal  at  wholesale  and  retail  it  to  students  at  whole 
sale  prices. 

OFFICERS  AND  EQUIPMENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

FACULTY. 

A  resident  Faculty  will  be  in  readiness  which,  it  is  believed, 
will  command  the  confidence  of  all  friends  of  advanced  and 
extended  education.  In  addition  to  these,  it  is  intended  to 
secure,  as  non-resident  professors,  a  number  of  gentlemen 
especially  distinguished  to  deliver  courses  of  lectures  in  their 
several  departments.  Several  gentlemen  of  acknowledged 
eminence  in  science,  literature  and  the  practical  arts,  have 
already  signified  their  willingness  to  accept  such  positions, 
and  it  is  intended  to  announce  the  names  of  the  Faculty,  resi 
dent  and  non-resident,  through  the  public  prints  early  in  the 
summer  of  1868. 

BUILDINGS. 

One  large  stone  building,  165  by  50  feet,  and  four  stories 
in  height,  has  already  been  erected ;  another  of  the  same  size 
is  in  progress.  In  these,  beside  dormitories,  are  library,  lec 
ture  and  recitation  rooms,  over  thirty  in  number,  and  of 
various  sizes. 

LABOKATOKIES. 

There  will  be  two  laboratories  well  equipped,  one  under  the 
direction  of  the  Professor  of  Agricultural  Chemistry,  and 
the  other  under  the  Professor  of  General  Chemistry. 

COLLECTIONS. 

The  University  already  possesses  the  Jewett  collection  in 
Palaeontology  and  Geology,  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars, 
and  has  received  a  donation  from  the  State  of  a  collection  ot 


THE   CORNELL   UNIVERSITY.  13 

duplicates  from  the  State  Geological  collection,  and  lias  funds 
now  in  hand  to  make  large  additional  collections  for  illustra 
tion  in  the  different  departments. 

LIBRARIES. 

The  trustees  feel  warranted  in  stating  that  the  University 
will  commence  with  a  scientific  and  general  library  sufficient 
for  the  immediate  wants  of  Faculty  and  Students,  and  con 
stant  appropriations  will  be  made  for  its  increase. 

STUDENT  LABOR  AND  PRACTICAL  INSTRUCTION  IN  AGRICULTURE. 

There  is  much  labor  to  be  done  upon  the  farm  attached  to 
the  Agricultural  department,  and  a  large  number  of  students 
can  be  employed  from  one  to  three  hours  a  day,  at  fair  prices. 
Shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  University,  the  University 
Steward  will  organize  a  voluntary  corps  for  systematized  and 
remunerated  labor,  under  the  direction  of  the  Professor  of 
Agriculture  and  Enirineerino;. 

O  OS 

STUDENT  LABOR  AND   PRACTICAL   INSTRUCTION   IN   TIIE 
MECHANIC  ARTS. 

It  is  intended  to  erect  workshops  upon  the  University 
property  where  students,  under  proper  direction,  can  have 
practical  instruction  in  Mechanic  Arts.  The  first  of  these  will 
be  a  workshop  fitted  with  the  proper  machinery  for  working  in 
wood  and  iron,  in  which  students  can  labor  at  fair  prices  upon 
agricultural  implements  and  machinery  in  general,  and  upon 
models  for  the  University  collections  of  machinery  and 
apparatus. 

Accomplished  artisans  will  superintend  this  work,  and  the 
attention  of  those  young  men  who  would  qualify  themselves, 
by  scientific  study,  for  the  most  responsible  and  remunerative 
positions  as  master  mechanics  and  superintendents  of  work 
shops,  is  invited  to  this  feature  in  the  course  of  practical 
instruction. 

PRIZES. 

The  following  prizes  are  offered  by  the  Founder  of  the  Uni 
versity  to  aid  meritorious  students  : 


14  THE   CORNELL  UNIVERSITY. 

To  the  student  of  the  Volunteer  labor  Corps  in  Agriculture, 
who,  without  neglecting  his  other  University  duties,  shall 
have  shown  himself  most  efficient,  practically  and  scienti 
fically,  upon  the  University  farm, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  third  in  merit, 10  00 

To  the  student  of  the  Volunteer  labor  Corps  in  the  Mechanic 
Arts,  who,  without  neglecting  his  other  University  duties, 
shall  have  shown  himself  most  efficient,  practically  and 

scientifically,  in  the  University  workshops, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, ,. 20  00 

To  the  third  in  merit, 10  00 

The  above  shall  be  known  as  the  "  Founder's  prizes." 

The  following  prizes  are  offered  by  the  President  of  the 
University  to  aid  meritorious  students  : 

To  the  student  showing  the  most  satisfactory  progress  in  the 

"  Modern  Course  "  during  the  first  year, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  student  showing  the  most  satisfactory  progress  in  the 

"  Combined  Course  "  during  the  first  year, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  most  meritorious  student  in  Chemistry,  as  applied  to 

Agriculture,   $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  most  meritorious  student  in  Practical  Mechanics  and 

Physics, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  most  meritorious  student  in  General  History, .  $50  00 
To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  most  meritorious  student  in  Modern  History, .   $50  00 
To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  writer  of  the  best  English  Essay, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 


THE  CORNELL  UNIVERSITY.  15 

To  the  student  who,  without  neglecting  his  other  duties  as  a 
member  of  the  University,  shall  make  the  most  satisfac 
tory  development  in  physical  culture, $50  00 

To  the  second  in  merit, 20  00 

To  the  third  in  merit, 10  00 

The  committees  of  examination  reserve  the  right  to  withhold 
a  prize  where  the  competition  shows  a  standard  not  sufficiently 
elevated. 

The  above  shall  be  known  as  the  "  President's  prizes." 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  UNIYEKSITY. 

The  establishment  of  the  Cornell  University  is  due  to  the 
combined  bounty  of  the  General  Government  and  of  the  Hon. 
EZRA  CORNELL. 

On  the  second  of  July,  1862,  Congress  passed  an  act  grant 
ing  public  lands  to  the  several  States  and  Territories  which 
may  provide  Colleges  for  the  benefit  of  Agriculture  and  the 
Mechanic  Arts. 

Under  this  act  thirty  thousand  acres  for  each  of  its  Senators 
and  Representatives  in  Congress  were  appropriated  to  each 
State,  and  under  this  provision  the  share  of  the  State  of  New 
York  was  in  land  scrip,  representing  990,000  acres. 

From  the  first,  the  State  of  New  York  determined  to  cease 
the  policy  of  scattering  its  educational  resources,  and  to  con 
centrate  this  fund  in  a  single  institution  worthy  so  great  a 
Commonwealth. 

Common  sense,  with  the  very  signal  failure  of  the  State  of 
Michigan  in  scattering  such  a  fund,  and  her  great  success  after 
concentrating  it,  were  conclusive  in  favor  of  such  a  policy. 

Acting  upon  this  idea,  the  State  first  appropriated  the  entire 
amount  of  land  scrip  to  the  People's  College  upon  certain  very 
easy  conditions.  These  conditions  not  being  complied  with, 
the  Legislature  by  chapter  585,  of  the  Laws  of  1865,  follow 
ing  the  same  policy  of  concentration,  against  much  opposition 
and  many  attempts  to  scatter  the  fund,  reaffirmed  its  old  deci 
sion  to  concentrate  the  fund,  by  overwhelming  majorities  in 


16  THE  CORNELL   UNIVERSITY. 

each  house,  and  gave  the  proceeds  of  the  entire  amount  of  scrip 
to  the  Cornell  University  on  certain  conditions,  of  which  the 
most  important  were,  that  EZKA  CORNELL  should  give  to  the 
Institution  live  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  that  one  student 
should  annually  be  received  and  educated,  free  of  all  charge 
for  tuition,  from  each  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
Assembly  Districts  of  the  State,  as  a  reward  of  merit  for  supe 
rior  scholarship  in  the  public  schools  or  academies.  Such 
student  to  be  designated  by  a  competitive  examination,  to  be 
conducted  on  a  plan  laid  clown  in  the  act. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  trustees  thereafter,  Mr.  CORNELL 
complied  with  the  conditions  of  the  charter  by  a  gift  of  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  due  form.  He  then  made  the 
•additional  gift  of  two  hundred  acres  of  excellent  land,  with 
buildings,  as  a  farm  to  be  attached  to  the  Agricultural  Depart 
ment  ;  the  Jewett  collection  in  Geology  and  Palaeontology, 
which  had  cost  him  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  since  that  time 
other  gifts  to  the  amount  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

Besides  this,  Mr.  CORNELL  has  expended  about  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  purchasing  the  land  scrip  and  locating  the 
lands  for  the  University,  and  it  is  proper  to  state  here,  that, 
previous  to  all  these  gifts,  he  had  erected  in  the  village  of 
Ithaca,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  a 
free  public  library  with  large  halls,  and  with  lecture  rooms 
which  will  be  exceedingly  useful  as  affording  supplementary 
accommodations  for  the  lectures  and  public  exercises  of  the 
University.  Thus  laying  the  foundation  for  a  sure  and  large 
endowment,  sufficient  to  enable  the  trustees  to  tender,  as  soon 
as  the  fund  shall  suffice,  freeboard  as  well  as  instruction  to  the 
State  Students. 

RELATIONS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  TO  THE  STATE. 

The  act  organizing  the  Cornell  University  makes  it  an 
organic  part  of  the  educational  system  of  the  State.  The 
Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  Secretary  of  State,  Superin 
tendent  of  Public  Instruction  and  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Assembly  are  ex  offieio  trustees.  The  President  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Society  is  also  ex  offieio  a  member  of  the  board. 


THE    CORNELL    UNIVERSITY.  17 

It  niav  be  mentioned  here,  that  the  Board  of  Trustees  are  not 
a  body  sitting  for  life,  but  that  they  are  constantly  renewed, 
the  term  of  office  being  five  years  ;  three  being  selected  every 
year — one  of  them  by  the  Alumni  whenever  they  shall  num 
ber  fifty.  This,  it  is  hoped,  will  do  much  to  ensure  vigor  and 
prevent  the  stagnation  from  which  so  many  institutions  of 
learning  have  suffered. 

SCOPE  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

The  special  departments  referred  to  above  will  be  developed 
conscientiously  and  as  thoroughly  as  possible.  The  promi 
nence  plainly  given  the  first  two  by  the  Act  of  Congress  will 
be  loyally  remembered.  It  must  also  be  constantly  recollected 
that  education  is  here  to  be  made,  not  only  scientific,  but 
practical.  Military  education  will  also  be  provided  for. 
Moreover,  the  trustees  are  also  pledged  to  try  fully  and  fairly 
the  experiment  of  allowing  students  in  appropriate  departments 
to  do  something  towards  paying  their  way  by  organized  manual 
labor,  under  scientific  direction.  This,  however,  will  be  volun 
tary,  as  the  freedom  of  onr  University  demands. 

But  besides  these  special  departments,  the  trustees  provide, 
in  accordance  with  the  clearly  expressed  intent  of  the  Congres 
sional  act,  general  instruction.  Mr.  CORNELL'S  gift  is  made  in 
order  to  round  the  wrhole  institution  into  the  proportions  of  an 
University  worthy  of  the  State.  He  expressed  plainly  and 
tersely  the  whole  University  theory  when  lie  said,  "  I  would 
found  cm  institution  where  any  person  can  find  instruction  in 
any  study.""1 

FEATURES  or  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

First.  Every  effort  will  he  made  that  the  education  given  he 
practically  useful.  The  idea  of  doing  a  student's  mind  some 
vague  general  good  by  studies  which  do  not  interest  him,  will 
not  control.  The  constant  policy  will  be  to  give  mental  disci 
pline  to  every  student  hy  studies  which  take  practical  hold 
upon,  the  tastes,  aspirations  and  work  of  his  life. 

Second.  There  is  to' he  University  liberty  of  choice .  Several 
courses  carefully  arranged  Avill  be  presented,  and  the  student, 


IS  THE    CORNELL    UNIVERSITY. 

aided  by  friends  and  instructors,  can  make  his  choice  among 
them. 

When  we  consider  that  young  men  are  constantly  obliged 
to  make  choice  unaided  in  regard  to  matters  of  even  more.-dim- 
culty  and  danger  than  courses  of  study,  it  will  not  be  thought 
so  absolutely  necessary  that  but  one  single  course  should  be 
allowed,  and  all  men  of  all  minds  forced  to  fit  it. 

Third.  There  will  be  no  Fetichism  in  regard  to  any  single 
studies.  All  good  studies  will  be  allowed  their  due  worth. 
While  the  beauty  and  worth  of  ancient  classics  will  not  be 
denied,  it  is  hoped  to  give  the  study  of  modern  classics,  espe 
cially  those  of  our  own  language,  a  far  more  important  place 
than  they  have  hitherto  held  in  our  colleges.  Special  attention 
will  be  paid  to  these. 

Fourth.  Historical  studies  and  studies  in  Political  and  Social 
science  will  be  held  in  high  honor,  and  will  have  more  atten 
tion  than  is  usual  in  our  higher  institutions  of  learning. 
Beside  thorough  regular  courses,  it  is  intended  to  present 
special  courses  of  lectures  by  non-resident  professors  of  emi 
nence. 

Fifth.  There  will  be  no  petty  daily  marking  system,  a 
pedantic  device,  which  has  eaten  out  from  so  many  colleges  all 
capacity  among  students  to  seek  knowledge  for  knowledge's 
sake.  Those  professors  will  be  sought  who  can  stir  enthusiasm, 
and  who  can  thus  cause  students  to  do  far  more  than  under 
a  perfunctory  piecemeal  study. 

Sixth.  It  enters  into  the  plan  adopted  by  the  Board  of  the 
Cornell  University  to  bring  about  a  closer  and  more  manly 
intercourse  and  sympathy  between  Faculty  and  students  than 
is  usual  in  most  of  the  colleges. 

Seventh.  The  study  of  Human  Anatomy,  Physiology  and 
Hygiene,  with  exercises  for  physical  training,  will  be  most 
carefully  provided  for. 

Eighth.  The  Cornell  University,  as  its  highest  aim,  seeks  to 
promote  Christian  civilization.  But  it  cannot  ~be  sectarian. 
Established  by  a  general  government  which  recognizes  no  dis 
tinctions  in  creed,  and  by  a  citizen  who  holds  the  same  view, 


THE    CORNELL    UNIVERSITY.  19 

it  would  be  false  to  its  trust  were  it  to  seek  to  promote  any 
creed  or  to  exclude  any. 

The  State  of  ]STew  York,  in  designating  this  institution  as 
the  recipient  of  the  bounty  of  the  general  government,  has 
also  declared  the  same  doctrine.  By  the  terms  of  the  charter, 
no  trustee,  professor  or  student  can  be  accepted  or  rejected  on 
account  of  any  religious  or  political  opinions  which  he  may  or 
may  not  hold. 

The  success  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  where  the 
Faculty  comprises  men  of  all  religious  sects  and  of  all  parties, 
is  a  sufficient  refutation  of  those  who  assert  that  an  institution 
of  learning  must  be  sectarian  to  be  successful. 

ACCESS  TO  THE  UNIVERSITY  TOWN. 

The  Cornell  University  is  established  at  Ithaca,  Tompkins 
county,  ~New  York.  From  the  south,  east  and  west,  the  most 
easy  access  is  by  the  N.  Y.  and  Erie  Railway,  leaving  that  road 
at  Owego  and  taking  the  cars  for  Ithaca. 

From  the  north,  east  and  wrest,  access  is  easy  by  the  ~N.  Y. 
Central  Railroad,  taking  the  "  old  road  "  between  Rochester 
and  Syracuse,  and  leaving  it  at  Cayuga  Bridge,  whence  steam 
boats  run  directly  to  Ithaca. 

Any  additional  information  can  be  obtained  of  FRANCIS  M. 
FINCH,  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Ithaca,  New  York, 
or  of  ANDREW  D.  WHITE,  President  of  the  University,  Syra 
cuse,  Xew  York. 


Gaylord  Bros. 
Makers 


Syracuse. 


N.  Y. 


PAT.  JAN.  21.  1908 


YC  65128 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


